Victron battery charger

[Dave Lawson]

So I just purchased this and I’d like some advice on the best way to use it. I was planning to have it as a permanent fixture in the van. Do I connect to the starter battery? If so where’s the best place to mount? Or do I mount under the seat next to my consumer unit and connect to the leisure battery?
After reading some of @Dellmassive posts I understand that if I connected to the starter, once charged, will then start to charge the leisure? I’m only at the beginning of the electric install, there’s a victron dc-dc charger in the post too.

Thanks in advance

 

[Pete C]

If you connect this to the starter battery, then it will only charge your leisure battery as well if you have an appropriately configured DC-DC charger.
As it happens, we have one of these for the starter battery (not installed in the van) and one for the leisure battery (installed in the van) for when we are on hook-up on a campsite.
It all depends on what you use your van for.

Pete

 

[Dave Lawson]

Day van/weekend van, tv, portable fridge, USB’s, lights. Two young children (3 & 5), so days days at the beach, weekend at sites with awning, as well as being my daily drive.

 

[Dellmassive]

Nice charger . . . =]

most people fit a charger that size in the seat base or kitchen unit on a T6.

**

as above, you need the DC-DC charger that will use engine power to charge the Leisure battery when you get it fitted.

one of the features we called AUTO VSR that enabled that.

more info here:

Battery Chargers - How I Did It -

Battery Chargers - How I Did It - So its that time of year again, cold, rainy. . . . . . . flat battery =[ This time we look at Battery Chargers. Our vans will most likely come with a AGM style starter battery, for this type of battery we need a "Smart Charger" . . . . but what does this...

www.t6forum.com

[Guide] DC-DC Charger (for leisure battery) -- How I Done It --

DC-DC Charger (for Leisure battery) -- How I Done It -- ************************************************** Dellmassive`s -- "how I Done It" -- Thread ************************************************** Kit List And Stuff -- How I Done It & What I Use --...

www.t6forum.com

Charging Starter and Leisure batteries with same charger - Victron

Hi, Inspired by @Deaky build post, I was planning on installing a Victron IP65 Smart charger next to the Starter Battery and a 2nd one to charge the Leisure batter (110AH AGM). I've discovered the CTEK D250SE will still charge the leisure battery as long as the volts on the starter battery are...

www.t6forum.com

but you can also do it the other way round . . . . ie - conect your Victron EHU charger direct to the AUX/Leisure battery.

you can then back charge the starter battery.

more on that here:

[Guide] Battery Maintainer (for Starter battery) -- How I Done It --

[Guide] Battery Maintainer (for Starter battery) -- How I Done It -- Right so its that time of year again . . . . . . . . Winter & (Lockdown 2020) The van might be layed up not being used, which will lead to a flat battery in around 3 weeks. The cold weather doesn't help the battery's...

www.t6forum.com

.

 

[Dave Lawson]

AMT12-2 Trickle Charger it is then! Those “how I did it” are spot on!
Thanks

 

[Dave Lawson]

Nice charger . . . =]

most people fit a charger that size in the seat base or kitchen unit on a T6.

**

as above, you need the DC-DC charger that will use engine power to charge the Leisure battery when you get it fitted.

one of the features we called AUTO VSR that enabled that.

more info here:

Battery Chargers - How I Did It -

Battery Chargers - How I Did It - So its that time of year again, cold, rainy. . . . . . . flat battery =[ This time we look at Battery Chargers. Our vans will most likely come with a AGM style starter battery, for this type of battery we need a "Smart Charger" . . . . but what does this...

www.t6forum.com

[Guide] DC-DC Charger (for leisure battery) -- How I Done It --

DC-DC Charger (for Leisure battery) -- How I Done It -- ************************************************** Dellmassive`s -- "how I Done It" -- Thread ************************************************** Kit List And Stuff -- How I Done It & What I Use --...

www.t6forum.com

Charging Starter and Leisure batteries with same charger - Victron

Hi, Inspired by @Deaky build post, I was planning on installing a Victron IP65 Smart charger next to the Starter Battery and a 2nd one to charge the Leisure batter (110AH AGM). I've discovered the CTEK D250SE will still charge the leisure battery as long as the volts on the starter battery are...

www.t6forum.com

but you can also do it the other way round . . . . ie - conect your Victron EHU charger direct to the AUX/Leisure battery.

you can then back charge the starter battery.

more on that here:

[Guide] Battery Maintainer (for Starter battery) -- How I Done It --

[Guide] Battery Maintainer (for Starter battery) -- How I Done It -- Right so its that time of year again . . . . . . . . Winter & (Lockdown 2020) The van might be layed up not being used, which will lead to a flat battery in around 3 weeks. The cold weather doesn't help the battery's...

www.t6forum.com

.

Any tips on getting two 16mm cables into the holes on the victron?

 

[Dellmassive]

for one cable . . . . . trim a few strands off so it fits then finish with:

heatshrink : Yakamoz 150pcs 2:1 Polyolefin H-Type Heat Shrink Tubing Tube 8 Sizes Sleeving Wire Cable Kit with Case – Black/Red: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

or PVC tape : GTSE 10 Rolls Multi Pack of PVC Electrical Insulation Tape, 5m x 19mm, Premium Multi-Colour Mixed 10 Rolls of Tape: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

or Tessa cloth tape. : https://amzn.to/3pWkPwq

or you can get Ferrules : 800pcs 10-24 AWG Wire Copper Crimp Connector Insulated Cord Pin End Terminal Ferrules Kit for Electrical Projects: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools


or

for two or more cables . . .

use a distribution block: : RKURCK 4 way Power Distribution Block, 0/2/4 AWG Gauge in, 4/8/10 Gauge Out, Car Audio Stereo Amp Distribution Connecting Block for Audio Splitter (1 in 4 Out): Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike

terminal stud : Homyl 4pcs DC 12V Bus Bar Terminal Block - 1/4 inch 6mm Positive Insulated Single Stud Power and Ground Junction Post - Red+Black: Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors

busBar : Gloaso 100A BusBar 4#10-20 Studs Terminal 100 Amp Bus Bar Distribution Block 48V DC 300 Volts AC: Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors


or use the downstream battery terminal.

.

 

[Dellmassive]

Here's the example

..




other examples . . .

 

[Qnapper]

I found of I connect EHU battery charger direct to the leisure battery my vehicle battery gets charged as well. I have one of these fitted ( not by me so still learning about it. )


Likewise whilst driving the campervan the above device charges the leisure battery. So far happy enough.

 

[Skyliner33]

View attachment 105653View attachment 105654
Any tips on getting two 16mm cables into the holes on the victron?

You could use a reducer, something like:

CL04R-V7: Critical Link 0-4 AWG Cable Reducer - Vibe

0-4 AWG Cable Reducer

vibeaudio.co.uk

 

[Dellmassive]

FYI @Dave Lawson

that AMT12-2 (starter battery trickle charger)

is rated @ 3A or 5A (pulse charging for 3secons on,5 seconds off)

so you can use much thinner wire . . . .for its connections to the DC-DC / battery feeds.

AMT12-2 Trickle Charger charges Vehicle Battery from Leisure Battery with Solar Charger /Mains Hookup | Ablemail Electronics

The AMT12-2 has many names Trickle Charger, Battery Maintainer, Battery Saver, Reverse Charger, Top Up Charger, Battery Equaliser, but its purpose is to keep a Source / Vehicle Battery charged & protected from damage during prolonged periods of Vehicle, Boat & Motorhome inactivity or storage...

www.ablemail.co.uk

https://www.ablemail.co.uk/sites/default/files/DOC%20No%20SWI049%20-%20ABLEMAIL%20-%20GENERAL%20Trickle%20Charge%20Installation%20Instructions%20Rev.A.pdf

the install sheet shows min - 1.5mm SQ or larger. - but 5A is the max current








******

AMT12-2 12V 2AMP Trickle Charger - Battery Maintainer - Battery Saver | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for AMT12-2 12V 2AMP Trickle Charger - Battery Maintainer - Battery Saver at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

ebay.us

.

 

[Dave Lawson]

FYI @Dave Lawson

that AMT12-2 (starter battery trickle charger)

is rated @ 3A or 5A (pulse charging for 3secons on,5 seconds off)

so you can use much thinner wire . . . .for its connections to the DC-DC / battery feeds.

AMT12-2 Trickle Charger charges Vehicle Battery from Leisure Battery with Solar Charger /Mains Hookup | Ablemail Electronics

The AMT12-2 has many names Trickle Charger, Battery Maintainer, Battery Saver, Reverse Charger, Top Up Charger, Battery Equaliser, but its purpose is to keep a Source / Vehicle Battery charged & protected from damage during prolonged periods of Vehicle, Boat & Motorhome inactivity or storage...

www.ablemail.co.uk

https://www.ablemail.co.uk/sites/default/files/DOC%20No%20SWI049%20-%20ABLEMAIL%20-%20GENERAL%20Trickle%20Charge%20Installation%20Instructions%20Rev.A.pdf

the install sheet shows min - 1.5mm SQ or larger. - but 5A is the max current



View attachment 105692View attachment 105693




******

AMT12-2 12V 2AMP Trickle Charger - Battery Maintainer - Battery Saver | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for AMT12-2 12V 2AMP Trickle Charger - Battery Maintainer - Battery Saver at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

ebay.us

View attachment 105691

.

Awesome! Appreciate the help, thanks.